Features

This is a partial list of major features that are rare or are unique to SmartClient (marked [u]). SmartClient also has several systemic advantages that cut across the entire product.

Intelligent Data Managers (the "M" in HTML5 MVC) [u]

• data caching allows reuse of data in multiple components without server contact (example)
• data paging and load on demand support for large datasets (example)
• automatically switch to client-side sorting if search results fit in cache
• automatically swtich to client-side filtering if search results fit in cache
• automatically integrates updates into client cache (example)
• customizeable data managers can be leveraged by custom components

Standardized Server Contact (the "C" in HTML5 MVC) [u]

• Standard, data-provider independant API for components to load and save data
  • grid load, tree load, search form, combobox filter, databound select -> "fetch"
  • edit record, grid inline edit, tree drag reparent -> "update"
  • edit new record, create new row, drag copy -> "create"
• mapping standard API to a data provider allows all components to use that data provider
• create components and screens that can be used, unchanged, with any DataSource (example)
• data providers can be swapped out with zero change to application
• built-in support for WSDL and REST (XML or JSON) allows integration with any server
• built-in SQL and Java Beans support via SmartClient Server

Shared Metadata Model (the "V" in HTML5 MVC) [u]

• forms, grids, trees, detail views share a single metadata model ("DataSource")
• fields, titles, editability, validation and other metadata reusable across components
• field by field overlay allows both shared metadata and per-screen customization (example) (docs)
• components understand and navigate relations between objects (master-detail) (docs)
• schema chaining to model inheritance, create customizeable and verticalized applications (docs)
• extensible type system allows new basic field types (example)

SmartClient Server

• client and server-side validation based on single declaration (DataSource) [u]
• queuing and batching of operations to enable multiple CRUD operations in one HTTP turnaround [u] (docs)
• bidirectionl Java <-> JavaScript type-safe translation
• bidirectionl XPath binding to Java objects [u] (docs)
• automatic compression for data and content
• on the fly JavaScript stripping, combining, obfuscation [u] (docs)
• automatic fallback protocols (eg iframes) for older browsers / browsers with strict security settings [u]
• SQL table generation / data import for rapid prototyping

True Browser Insulation [u]

• Fully shielded from cross-browser testing and debugging, based on 5 key pillars
• See discussion under Advantages

Documentation

• searchable, online documentation viewer with inline examples makes finding answers easier (example)
• over 4x the documentation of any competing framework [u]

Advanced Skinning Features

• Round corners on any component, drag resizeable, animation-capable [u] (example) (example) (example)
• High quality, variable depth drop shadows (example)
• Pervasive support for icons within components
• Autofitting triple-image stretchable tabs and buttons (example) (example)
• Pervasive support for hovers (example)

Background Download [u]

• pre-load SmartClient while user views / interacts with plain HTML pages (docs)
• hides download time during login process / splash page so that user perceives instant loading
• for more significant to user experience than relative framework download size

Fluid Form Layouts

• space filling layouts make maximum use of space (example)
• create space-filling layouts that work even if some fields are not shown for current user [u]

Direct WSDL binding

• direct integration with WSDL web services without an intervening server
• automatic SOAP message formation from JavaScript data (eg from HTML forms)
• automatic XML namespace handling

Metadata Import [u]

• import existing metadata from XML Schema, Java Beans, other metadata sources (example)
• rich import captures validation rules, enumerated types, pattern restrictions, inheritance
• use schema chaining to layer presentation metadata over model metadata (example)

Relogin [u]

• Special handling for a background HTML5 operation that encounters session timeout
• User may log back in and original request is retried automatically (no data loss) (docs)

Reify Visual Designer [u]

• screen building tool intended for functional design (docs)
• zero-install, SmartClient application that runs in the browser
• load, save and share screens, using Reify Visual Designer as a central design hub for building mockups and "wireframes"
• customize for your organization: custom components, custom properties, custom skins, custom events, custom actions
• clean code generation: prototype can be refined and extended into final application, instead of scrapping prototype and starting over
• wizards for binding to RSS, REST, SQL, SalesForce, and Kapow Robots [u]

Data cube / OLAP support [u] (example)

• multi-dimensional data model navigation
• dual axis hierarchical dimensions, drill down, drill up
• drag and drop dimension rearrangment
• bi-directional cube-based load-on-demand
• charting engine integration

Accessibility

• UI components fully keyboard navigable out of the box
• automatic tab order management handles hardest cases [u]
  • modality and layered modality (modal dialog on modal dialog) (example)
  • lazily created and lazily loaded UI components
  • navigating data sets with data paging (example)
  • dynamic reordering of components (example)
• screen reader support via WAI (Web Accessability Institute) standards

History management

• Back/forward navigation and bookmarkability
• Flexibly tie history navigation to any application action

"Query by Example": Inline search row in grids [u] (example)

• maximally compact search interface
• enabled by a simple property, deeply customizeable

Plugin Management (Applets, Flash, ActiveX controls) [u]

• use plugins inside SmartClient layouts and windows, resize them, drag them, show and hide them
• drag and drop over plugins without burnthrough, jitter or hung drags
• drop onto plugins and receive normal drop events

Server push

• high volume HTTP streaming
• JMS integration

JavaScript class system

• create and extend classes within the browser
• real Super(), handling recursion and inter-recursion cases [u]

Incremental rendering in grids

• Only currently visible rows are rendered
• Allows data paging via a scrollbar instead of link-based paging
• Allow browsing and editing data without arbitrary page breaks separating rows
• Necessary for large trees (where link-based paging doesn't work)
• Better performance in grids showing large numbers of rows
• Incremental rendering and data paging works with variable-height auto-sizing rows [u]

Bi-directional incremental rendering [u]

• Necessary for grids with many columns
• Necessary for data cubes / OLAP navigation (example)

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